Tag Archives: Marcus Fabrics

Quilt Market-Bound, Part II – Booth Demos & Cool Clothes!

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It’s that time again — final prep mode continues as we prepare to greet our quilt shop owners and industry friends at Spring Quilt Market!  This time, the trade show is in Portland, OR, May 18-20.  If you’re attending, you’ll find us in Booth # 737.

 

Pati Violick, our Director of Advertising & Marketing, will share a few cool techniques in the booth for various types of handwork, incorporating our versatile new basic BASECLOTH.  

And speaking of Basecloth, you’ll also want to see some of the gorgeous garments designed by Amy Barickman of Indygo Junction, also in the Basecloth – we told you it was versatile!   These easy, timeless silhouettes prove that our season-spanning cotton Basecloth goes far beyond quilting and needlework.  Shown below in three of the eight classic colors, the clothing patterns below (and many others) are available through Indygo Junction.  Now… for extra credit, imagine a bit of embroidery or other custom handwork along the edge of one of these garments…

Quilt Market-Bound, Part 1: BOM Programs and More

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It’s that time again — we’re in last-minute prep mode, ready to greet so many of our quilt shop owners and industry friends at Spring Quilt Market!  This time, the trade show is in Portland, OR, May 18-20.  If you’re attending, you’ll find us in Booth # 737, along with a display of the actual quilts from our stunning new BOM programs and designer fabric collections! Shown first here is “Stargazing” by Krisanne Watkins of Quail Valley Quilts (featuring our AGED MUSLINS)

Also enjoy the richly-colored and beautifully pieced PRIMITIVE THREADS collection by Pam Buda. The pattern is available through Heartspun Quilts. 

Next up: Kim Eichler-Messmer’s juicy artisan batik line, IMBUE Batiks, as interpreted by Kenna Ogg of Madison Cottage Design

Putting the ARTISAN in Artisan Batiks

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What makes a batik an “artisan batik”? Clearly, all batiks are created by talented artists around the world, whether or not we know their names.  With two beautiful designer batik collections in our current Studio 37 line, we asked our designers what it is that gives their creations that “artisan” touch, and uncovered some of their signature characteristics:


Victoria Findlay Wolfe describes her PARTS DEPT. BATIKS as having an artistic use of negative space in the designs.  “Graphic, fun rock-and-roll style prints…Edgy, yet they play well with others.  Classic dots and Crisp whites.” Her Star Storm pattern and kit (lower left) are available online.

  

   

Kim Eichler-Messmer points out the following in her IMBUE BATIKS, her debut collection for Studio 37.  “They are different because of clean, modern color palette inspired by my own hand dyed fabric…

   

Graphic, contrasting patterns that vary in scale from large to small.  The fabric is nice and soft and smooth, very easy to work with in quilts and garments.  They are hand printed and the hand of the maker shows in the imperfections that add character to the cloth.”  You’ll find Kim’s IMBUE quilt patterns, Robie and Sonia online.
  
Also check out Kenna Ogg’s (Madison Cottage Design) rendition of IMBUE – her G. Smith quilt pattern, below, is also available online:

So…Who Won the AGED MUSLINS???

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Thanks to everyone for your inspiring ideas about our AGED MUSLINS and NEW AGED MUSLINS.  If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to read thru everyone’s terrific ideas – including some we hadn’t even thought of!

Without further delay, the winner of our random drawing is Christina Northern, from the metro DC area.  We’re pleased to introduce this new palette to so many new fans, includung Christina, who commented:   “What an interesting idea. I have not seen this kind of thing before. But Aged Muslin sounds so interesting. Can’t wait to work with it and turn it into something distinct.”   

You’ll find most of the colors in your favorite local quilt shops now, and the newer saturated colors will be shipping soon.  

And watch for details of the new Aged Muslins BOM, Stargazing, by Krisanne Watkins of Quail Valley Quilts. (shown here)

We’re Celebrating AGED MUSLINS with a Giveaway!

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TEN YEARS and still going strong!! In fact, ever since we introduced this novelty “not-so-solid” solid in 2007-08, they’ve just gotten better with time —

What separates our AGED MUSLIN from the look-alikes is a special dyeing technique that creates a faded, distressed, look.  The result is an inherent overall shading that gives the cloth gives its rich, suede-like appearance.   These qualities make our AGED MUSLINS an interesting complement for prints in pieced quilts, where a true solid would read too “flat”, and a texture print isn’t quite right either.

  • The 100% cotton range began with a few neutrals in paper-bag tones
  • Then it expanded to include blues and greys — Pair these with the season’s best denims & chambrays.
  • Next came the dusty midtones (NEW AGED MUSLINS)
  • And in 2017, we added eight saturated fashion colors to the New Aged Muslins category.

Perfect for Trendy and Traditional Quilts, Home Décor, Fashion…

  • They’ll give an authentic, aged look when paired with reproductions, or a casual effect when blended with contemporary prints.
  • AGED MUSLIN’s weave is slightly tighter than standard quilting fabrics, making it an excellent background fabric for appliqué, embroidery and other forms of handwork.
  • The collection also plays well on its own, as you can see in “Stargazing”, shown below our new Aged Muslin BOM program by Krisanne Watkins of Quail Valley Quilts.  Watch for details on line soon!(Begins September 2018, 91” x 91”)

What’s your favorite use for our Aged Muslins, including neutrals, blues and greys, dusty midtones or the newest saturated colors?  Or if you haven’t tried them yet, what would you make?  Comment below for the chance to WIN a FQ BUNDLE!! All blog comments received by Sunday, April 8 at 11:59pm are eligible for the random dawing  —  Good Luck!

GTKH, Now in a 6-Inch Wide Strip Bundle!

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Nancy Rink’s GTKH: Getting to Know Hue collection inspires a fresh new look for 2018, with a new 6″ WIDE precut bundle (24 prints) and two new patterns designed by Tiffany Hayes, a friend of Nancy’s, and the owner of Needle in a Hayes Stack.

Tiffany created the “Stars Over Hue” pattern specifically for the new 6” wide strip bundles, then quickly followed up with a second quilt, a re-work of her existing Double Churn block.  Tiffany  manipulated the block design until she was able to utilize all of the pieces in the strip bundle, and the result is her “Double Churn” quilt pattern.  The bundle includes (24) strips, 6” wide x WOF, a generous put-up that lends itself to many other quilt designs as well.  Ask for it at your favorite local quilt shop!

Let’s Meet at QUILTCON! — Part II

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We’re happy to have the newest member of the Studio 37 design team joining us at QuiltCon! Meet Kim Eichler-Messmer, whose debut collection of gorgeous artisan batiks, IMBUE is hitting quilt shops this month! 

FREE DEMO: Kim will share her techniques for reverse applique on Thursday from 2-4pm in our booth (911).  She’s also giving two lectures (at this time, they’re both still available, unlike her reverse applique workshop that’s already sold out!)  Her lectures include:

Fine Art to Functional Quilts – Thursday 2/22 10:30 – 11:15am.  Kim studied painting and printmaking in college (among many, many other things) and pursued a career in fine art. She never intended to make a quilt until, one day in graduate school, it seemed like a good idea. Armed with a sewing machine, scissors, some precious hand dyed fabric, and no idea what she was doing, she embarked on a quilt adventure. Essentially, she learned how to quilt by doing everything wrong. Hear about her path from Fine Art to Functional Quilts and how inspiration can be found all around us.

Dyeing Fabric for Modern Quilts, Saturday 2/24 1:45 – 2:30pm.  Dyeing your own fabric is a great way to customize your quilts and is much easier than you might think. Kim will discuss different dyes and methods including natural and synthetic dye, indigo, removing dye, and shibori. If you’ve been wanting to add dyeing to your quilt tool box but aren’t sure how, this lecture will provide the resources and inspiration you need to create dyed fabrics to mix in with your favorite Studio 37 fabrics!

Expand your creativity with free demos and lectures like these, plus booth displays, classes, exhibits, vendors, and the general joyful interaction that quilting brings, all at QuiltCon — there’s still time to register!!

Let’s Meet at QUILTCON!! — Part I

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We’re thrilled to return this year as a sponsor and exhibitor at QuiltCon, the premiere event of the Modern Quilt Guild!  It takes place in Pasadena, CA from February 22-25, and we’re busy putting the finishing touches on the booth and some special events. We’ll again sponsor the award in the category of Modern Traditionalism, and we’re also the proud sponsor of the MQG Leadership Breakfast meeting for chapter leaders, so we’ll see you there, bright and early on Saturday ; )

During the show, you’ll find us in BOOTH 911, where you can pick up your postcard for our Booth Hop – there’s a $1500 Quilter’s Prize Pack at stake — just visit our participating sponsor booths at QuiltCon and follow the easy instructions to enter…just pick up this postcard at our booth to get started!  Sponsors include our own Studio 37 designers, along with Aurifil, Olfa, Sizzix, and Private Source Quilting – thanks to all of you!

When you hop over to Booth 530, you’ll see what’s new with Studio 37 designers Nancy Rink and Sarah J Maxwell. They’ll be previewing a fun new #designerduo Quilt-Along (it begins in April!) and Sarah will demo chenille techniques using her Primo Plaid Flannels and the Olfa Chenille cutter.

There’s too much QuiltCon activity to share in just one blog post… stay tuned for Part II!

A Year’s Worth of Creative Excitement!

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A fresh year means a fresh start for our creative projects…check out just a few of the exciting things coming your way in the coming months from Marcus and Studio 37!

Sneak Peeks!  Watch for these collections online beginning February 1:

And get caught up with our most recent releases, online now:

PANTONE Ultra Violet: Comment to Win!

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PANTONE Color InstitutePantone has picked another winner for its Color of the Year!  It’s ULTRA VIOLET 18-3838, and it’s actually a great complement to last year’s wildly popular pic, GREENERY, as well as other shades of green, blue and purple.  Pantone says of the choice:

“Inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come. A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”   (Don’t you just love Pantone’s narratives?)

We’re sold! What do you think of this year’s star color?  Comment on Studio 37’s Instagram post by this Friday, January 26 for a chance to win a fabric bundle in honor of this year’s pick!